Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Preliminary note
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Cratylus' naturalism (383a–384c)
- 2 Hermogenes' conventionalism (384c–386e)
- 3 Naturalism defended (386e–390e)
- 4 Naturalism unfolded (390e–394e)
- 5 Naturalism illustrated: the etymologies of ‘secondary’ names (394e–421c)
- 6 Naturalism illustrated: the primary names (421c–427e)
- 7 Naturalism discussed (427e–433b)
- 8 Naturalism refuted and conventionalism defended (433b–439b)
- 9 Flux and forms (439b–440e)
- Appendix 1 The text of 437d10–438b8
- Appendix 2 Some interpolations and non-mechanical errors in W and δ
- References
- I General index
- II Index of ancient texts
- III Index of Greek expressions
- IV Index of words discussed in the Cratylus
9 - Flux and forms (439b–440e)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Preliminary note
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Cratylus' naturalism (383a–384c)
- 2 Hermogenes' conventionalism (384c–386e)
- 3 Naturalism defended (386e–390e)
- 4 Naturalism unfolded (390e–394e)
- 5 Naturalism illustrated: the etymologies of ‘secondary’ names (394e–421c)
- 6 Naturalism illustrated: the primary names (421c–427e)
- 7 Naturalism discussed (427e–433b)
- 8 Naturalism refuted and conventionalism defended (433b–439b)
- 9 Flux and forms (439b–440e)
- Appendix 1 The text of 437d10–438b8
- Appendix 2 Some interpolations and non-mechanical errors in W and δ
- References
- I General index
- II Index of ancient texts
- III Index of Greek expressions
- IV Index of words discussed in the Cratylus
Summary
Now, less than two Stephanus pages from the end, comes a turning point: Socrates turns to an explicit – if still provisional – assessment of the flux theory. His arguments, and the final parting of the ways between him and Cratylus, are the subjects of this final chapter.
THE ARGUMENTS (439B–440D)
The lawgivers in a whirl (439bc)
so. Again, let us investigate this further point, in order that these many names which point in the same direction do not deceive [ἐξαπατᾷ] us, if those that imposed them did impose them believing that all things are always moving and flowing – for it does seem to me that they too had this belief [φαίνονται γὰρ ἔμοιγε καὶ αὐτοὶ οὕτω διανοηθῆναι] – whereas this is perhaps not so, and it is rather that they, having fallen into a sort of vortex [εἴς τινα δίνην], are themselves whirled around and, dragging us to them, try to make us too fall inside.
(439b10–c6)This passage is crucial in several respects, all of which bear on the interpretation and structure of the whole dialogue.
First, Socrates expressly confirms that, as he said at 411bc, he believes that the first namegivers held the flux theory (c1–4). There seems no reason why we should not assume that Socrates is being sincere.
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- Information
- The Cratylus of PlatoA Commentary, pp. 449 - 488Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011